Sandhill Cranes

Dusty Trails, your outdoor specialists in North Platte, has partnered with a landowner along the North Platte River to place a Crane viewing blind near a large roost.

All tours are accompanied by an experienced guide. The morning blind tours will involve walking into the blind in complete darkness and remaining in the blind until all of the birds have left the river. The evening blind tours will involve walking into the blind before sunset and remaining in the blind until full dark. Your guide will lead you to and from the blind. Please review all guidelines and the list of what to bring with you on the Dusty Trails website.

Two public viewing blinds are available for those wanting to venture on their own. Please see the North River Wildlife Area Blind and the North Platte City Blind on our brochure.

Both of these locations are available on a first come, first served basis, and both areas are open to the public and free of charge. Please dress warmly, as neither of these blinds are heated and temperatures can be quite low before sunrise and after sunset. It is also highly encouraged that you look over the Public Blind Etiquette ahead of time. If you are planning on watching the Cranes during sunrise, we also recommend visiting the blind the day before so you are familiar with the area before you make the trek in complete darkness. Please keep in mind, that while the patterns of the Sandhill Cranes are fairly reliable, we cannot guarantee their presence at any particular location during your visit.

If you plan to visit the North River Wildlife Area Blind, please click here for additional information from Nebraska Game and Parks.

To aid you in your experience of the Sandhill Crane migration, Dusty Trails, your outdoor specialists in North Platte has developed tours during the most active time of the day for the Sandhill Crane courtship behaviors.

All tours include a round trip through the North Platte River valley between North Platte and Hershey. The tour will linger along the rural roads wherever there are large groups of Sandhill Cranes so that you can observe, video and photograph as much as you would like. While on the tour, you will be treated to information about the Sandhill Cranes, their migration and behaviors you may observe in the fields. Please review all guidelines and the list of what to bring with you on the Dusty Trails website.

We recommend using your personal vehicle as a mobile viewing blind during this time of day. The Golden Spike Tower here in North Platte is also a great place to catch some views of the dancing Cranes. Please see our recommended driving route, the Buffalo Bill State Historical Park Blind, and the Golden Spike Tower in our brochure.

Please note, that the blind at Buffalo Bill State Historical Park is mobile and is sometimes utilized for other events, but even if it is not there, this is still a great viewing area to see the Sandhill Cranes from your vehicle. If using your vehicle as a mobile viewing blind, please use caution when parking along roadsides and remember that most areas along the driving route are private property so please do not trespass. It is also highly encouraged that you look over the Birding Etiquette ahead of time. If you are planning to visit the Golden Spike Tower, there is a charge to visit/view the birds from the 7th and 8th stories. Please keep in mind, that while the patterns of the Sandhill Cranes are fairly reliable, we cannot guarantee their presence at any particular location during your visit.

Dusty Trails will hosts excursions to a large and busy Prairie Chicken lek located south of Sutherland.

Visitors will be transported to the lek by bus or van, a trip of about an hour and arrive at the lek prior to sunrise. This tour will remain at the lek for about three hours allowing visitors to enjoy the amazing sights and sounds of these incredible birds as they practice and perform various mating rituals. They will cackle, jump and stomp their feet, sometimes scuffling with a rival. Then they will scrunch down and inflate their bright orange neck sacks and emit an eerie booming sound. The ladies on the other hand will observe the shenanigans circumspectly, examining the prospects with a critical eye. However, if they see something they like, they may come forward for a brief, flurried assignation. Please review all guidelines and the list of what to bring with you on the Dusty Trails website.

The NCORPE project offers a public viewing option to see the dance of the Prairie Chickens. To request a viewing date, you must make a reservation. Please see NCORPE on our brochure for directions.

You must make a reservation in advance to view the Prairie Chickens here. Viewers will need to arrive at the NCORPE office 1 hour and 15 minutes before sunrise. The public is advised to dress accordingly (dark clothing recommended) and to bring all personal gear needed for viewing wildlife. Only a viewing blind will be provided. No flashlights, camera equipment, binoculars, and/or personal gear will be provided. No restrooms available. Please note, this location is approximately a 30 minute drive from North Platte. Reservations can be made by contacting Kyle Shepherd at (308)534-6752 or kshepherd@urnrd.org.